This is my most comfortable setup for #live #performances: The #Continuum #Fingerboard and a #Kalimba plugged into the #Lyra8. The setup is light (I can take it on my bicycle and with public transports) and easily built up. Neither sound engineering nor much space is needed on stage. The controlling interfaces of the three instruments allow me to #improvise intuitively, using only my both hands and feet. The audience can clearly observe how I interact with these very special instruments. The sound is completely #analog and very organic. All sound is triggered directly by me, a human being, without loops or sequencers. The only effect is the built-in delay of the Lyra 8. The tonalities are also controlled carefully by me. The three instruments allow me to do so. No pre-defined un-natural 12-half-tone equally tempered scale is used. Recorded 2018-03-21Embedded contentLyra 8 & Kalimba & Continuum ""Koto"" (In honor of Alice Coltrane) by KING EMIR by KING EMIR on SoundCloud

The first piece reminds me a little, very little bit of sounds Coil would have used. Quite nice, enjoyed it.So I understand you are playing a real hardware Kalimba and feed it through the Lyra? What do you do with the Continuum? Can that save sounds?

I am currently watching a few YT videos on the Lyra, still don't really get it, it's mainly an effect device? But really interesting. Will need to watch more to find out.I have seen a Continuum at the Berlin Synthesizer exhibition almost 1 year ago, plus loads of other classic or experimental devices.

The Lyra has its own sound generators, they respond to closing the electric circuit with your fingers on contact spots. The sound generators have a really slow attack, so you end up using their sound to create spheric soundscapes, it's almost impossible to play melodies. Each sound generator can be tweaked steplessly in the pitch, and a pair of neighboring sound generators can be tweaked in the shape (triangle->square or so). They can also be used for modulating each other. Then, there's the effect section which is a quite unique delay.

Yes, I plug in an analogue picked up Kalimba into the Lyra, to let its sound be modified by the effect section of the Lyra, and to add the Lyra's own sounds.

The continuum has its own internal sounds (a mix of multisamples and digital sound generators) which respond sophisticatedly to the playing on the continuum surface and to foot pedals.

I used to control external synths (both analogue and digital) with it, but I hate all the midi setting up, it's so annoying, at the moment I use just the internal sounds (which could be programmed if you like). It's not possible to use the Continuum as a sampler/looper though.